DATA ON ELECTROPHORETIC MOBILITY AND ENZYMATIC-ACTIVITY LEVELS OF LACTATE-DEHYDROGENASE FROM CENTIPEDES (CHILOPODA)

Lactate dehydrogenase has been analyzed electrophoretically, and its e nzymatic activity level quantitatively evaluated in species of four Ch ilopoda orders. Scolopendromorpha, Scutigeromorpha, and most Lithobiom orpha showed a single activity band, while in Geophilomorpha more than one band was revealed, thus suggesting the existence of isozymes. Enz ymatic activity was highest in Scutigeromorpha and in Scolopendromorph a, intermediate in Lithobiomorpha and very low in Geophilomorpha. It i s presumed that the lactate dehydrogenase activity level has adaptive meaning in view of the different energy request during locomotion betw een slow 2nd fast moving centipedes.